SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) â€” The New Mexico Supreme Court is cautioning trial courts and lawyers that citizens who donâ€™t speak English have the right to serve on juries.

The court issued the admonition in a ruling that upholds an Albuquerque manâ€™s convictions for murder and other crimes in the bludgeoning death of his girlfriend and a subsequent armed robbery and stabbing.
Michael Samoraâ€™s appeal argued that his convictions should be reversed because a Bernalillo County judge excused a Spanish-speaking prospective juror who had trouble understanding English.
The Supreme Court says it agrees with that argument but also says Samoraâ€™s defense needed to object during the trial but didnâ€™t.
The ruling issued Monday tells judges and lawyers that they must make reasonable efforts to protect the rights of non-English speaking citizens to serve on juries.